Fire-alarm telegraph



L. DEGEN.

FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH. APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3. 1mg.

Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

his Aflarrwy L. DEGEN.

FIRE AIARMIELEGRAPH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV, 13, I919.

1,405,673, I Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig Z-a G? 41 Ill 7 5. :III I for 'Lewz's Dayan WWMMZ Q 7213- Aflaz'neysUNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE,

nwrs DEGEN,1 OFFOAIJKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

rInE-ALAnM TELEGRAPH.

Specification oflLetters Patent.

Patented Feb. '7

Application filed November 13, 1919. Serial No. 337,659.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Lnwis DEGEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State'of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in a Fire-Alarm Telegraph, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a signalling s s tem especially adapted forsending re alarms; and pertains particularly to a signal system havlngauxiliary boxes'located remote from a sub-statlon' for actuating thesub-station signal mechanism,'and to means for sending'a call to thecentral station in case of trouble in the auxiliary box circults. If anaccidental open occurs in the auxiliary box, orthe box is shunted, thetest'current the'substation box from 'the auxiliary box,

or for tripping the sub-stationboxmanually and restoring the troublecircuit connections.

These objects will be more fully understood, as will also other objectsand corresponding accomplishments of my invention from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof. F or the Ipurpose of this description, reference is had the let-off. e

to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 IS a diagrammatic view offa fire alarm box embody ng myimprovement;

Fig. 2 is a like view of a portion of the box illustrating the selectorswitch with-relation to the circuit; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view ofthe selector switchin another position; and Fig. 3 is a detailed viewshowing Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, a sub-station box isshown, and the stop wheel of any ordinary signalling 'train is indicatedby l. stop cam 5 having stop slots 6 and 7 disposed at diametricallyopposite points. Geared inthe signalling train is an arbor 8 having afire wheel 9 and a trouble wheel 10 fixed thereto. Pivot-ed on the frameis a starter 11 having a pin 12 at' one end On the faceof the stop wheelis the adapted to be engaged by hammers on the trigger mechanismoperated from the aimiliary box circuit. 'On the other arm of'thestarter is a follower v13 adaptedto be dis-i posed in the follower stopslots for holding the stop Wheel. A convenient ratio of gearing-betweenthe character wheels and the stop wheel is such that one half revolutionof the stop wheel will'cause'four revolutions of the characterwheels,whereby four rounds may be telegraphed upon release of'the stopwheel. Disposed below an arm of the starter is a hand lever showninCIOSS'SBC- tion and indicated by 14. This is the usual hand lever soarranged that upon pulling the latter, the' starter will release thestop wheel.

The leads for the auxiliary circuit are indicated by l5 and 16. Leadl6yis connected to a binding post, from which leads conduct-or 17,-conductor 17" being connectedto one terminal of a set ofelec'tro-magnets18 for operating the fire alarm." The other terminal of the set 18 isconnected by a conductor 19 through'binding posts to a conductor 20,which leads to one terminal of a set of electro-magnets 21 controllingthe trouble signal. The other terminal of set 21 is'connected by aconductor 22 to a binding post, and thereby to lead 15 of the auxiliarycircuit. In practice the four binding.

posts are connected to an, auxiliary circuit; 4

having more than. two wires leading to the box. 7 However, for" the sakeof 'clearn'ess, the

connections are here shown in simplified form. This auxiliary circuitmayinclude a. source of electrical energy, suchas battery, 86, aresistance87, and a pull switch 88to short circuit the resistance. Apivoted armature 23 is disposedto be actuatedby the controlelectro'-magnet'18,'and is normally held out of contact with the magnetpoles by a tension spring 24. A pivoted armature 25 is disposed tobeactuated by control magnet 21, and'is nermallyheld against the poles ofthe latter by the'test current flowing in the auxiliary circuit.

cated so that it will engage'one arm-of the lever 27, when thearmature'dlops away fromthe poles of control magnet'21 due 'to'failureof the current in the auxiliary circuit. A link 28 is'secured to theother end of the lever 27. and to one end of a lever 29. Lever 29 isarranged to be en- Disposed on one end of the armature 25 is a pin 2610-gaged in the notch of a triggerSO which is j V pivoted upon the frame ofthe mechanism.

7 .for operation. The'auxiliary circuit is of the typeinwhichthere is atest current continually flowing of suflicient strength to maintainarmature in contact with the poles of control magnet 21, but notsuflicient -;to .pull armature 23 against the poles of control magnet18. Suppose that the test current fails, then the armature 25 will drop,kicking lever 27. This conveys motion, through the link 28 to lever 29,releasing the trigger 30. Catch 31 is then free to move so as toreleasethe hammer wheel 33, and

the hammer 34 engages pin 12 on the starter releasing the stop wheel andstarting the signalling .mechanism. Of course,- when there is anaccidental opening in the auxiliary box circuit, the sub-station boxcannot be operated fromthe auxiliary box.

A pivoted trigger 36 has a foot disposed to be engaged by armature 23when in its upper position, The upper end may be dis posed to hold acatch 37 in position, so that a hook on the end thereof will engage apin 38 on a hammer wheel 39. Wheel 39 is provided with a hammer for pin12 similar to that on wheel 33. A spring 40 tends to rotate wheel 39 sothat its hammer will engage the pin 12 and trip the starter. A

connecting link 41 secures hammer wheel 39 to a wheel 42, the latterbeing journalled uponthe frame of the mechanism, so that upon rotationof Wheel 39, wheel 42 will be correspondingly rotated. On the wheel 42is apin 43 disposed in the slot 44 of a link 45. Link 45. is pivotallysupported by a pin 46 disposed in a slot in the link. The

other end of link 45 has an irregular slot 47 therein. 'A selectorswitch cylinder 48 is 'ournalled. on the frame and has a pin 49 ridingin slot 47. Secured to a pin 50 on thecylinder 48 is a connecting rod51, which is secured at the other end.to the hand lever 14 by a lostmotion connection, so that the link may be raised by rotation of theselector switch cylinder without disturbing the 1 hand lever, and thehand lever may be pulled to raise the link. 7

Upon rotation of hammer wheel 39, wheel 42 isrotatedby motion beingtransmitted through link 41. Pin 43 rides to the end of slot 44 and thenmoves link 45 longitudi nally. Link 45 pulls upon pin 49, the latterengaging the vertical part of slot 47. This causes cylinder 48 to berotated, and the selector switch places the trouble make and break outof operation, and the fire make and break in operation, as laterdescribed.

A spring 52 secured to cylinder 48 tends torotate the latter back intonormal position. In order to prevent return of the cyl- .inder untilcompletion of the fire call, a pin 53 having a bevelled end is disposedthereon. A stop pin 54 secured to the frame prevents the cylinder 48from being moved by spring 52 beyond the normal position for sendingtrouble calls. Mountedon-a vertical pivot secured to the frame of themechanism is a trigger 55 with its rear arm disposed in the path of pin53. The rear arm is pressed toward the cylinder 48' by a spring. Arelease link 56 has a finger 57 disposed to engage the front endoftrigger 55, when in its lower position, and hold the rear end oftrigger 55 out of the path-of pin 53. Rotation of cylinder 48 willcause.

the bevelled end of pin 53 to engage trigger 55 and move the latter topass above the trigger. Upward movement of link 56 will move the finger57 away from the trigger and the latter will move into the path of the.pin 53, holding the cylinder against return.

rotation. Upon starter 11 moving into position to again lock the stopwheel, link 56 is' pulled downward, finger 57 engaging trigger 55 andpulling the latter out of the path of pin 53, permitting the return ofcylinder 48 by spring 52 to the normal position of the selector switch.Thus, on movement of the selector switch by pulling either-the handlever or auxiliary fire trip, the selector switch will be moved to fireposition and held therein until the starter again locks the stop wheel,when the selector switch is re turned to the trouble position. When thestarter is released bythe trouble mechanism, no movement of theselectorswitch occurs, so that operation of link 56 does not have any function.If the auxiliary fire trip has been operated, link 45 will have beenrocked so that pin 49 willhave reached the lower part of slot 47 and mayride along the same, when the starter through link 56 releases theswitch. Thus, the trouble connections will be restored without resettingthe auxiliary fire trip mechanism. .l-Iammer wheels 33 and 39 must bereset upon each operation of the same to again placethem in operativposition.

The leads to the central station are indicated by 60 and 61. Lead 60 isconnected to a contact 62 forming one element of the trouble make andbreak and to a conductor 63 leading to a spring finger 64 which restsupon the cylinder 48 of the selector switch. The other contact of themake and break is indicated by 65 and tends to break contact with 62.Contact 65 is connected by a conductor 66 to the middle spring finger 67resting on the selector switch cylinder. Leading from spring finger 68resting on the selector switch cylinder is a conductor 69 connectingwith contact 70 of the fire make and break. The other contact of thefire make andbreak' is indicated by 71 and tends to keep the circuitopen. Contacts 65 and 71 are electrically connected. A conductor 72 isconnected to conduct0r69 at the contact 7 O and leads to one terminal ofa non-interfering coil 73. As this element forms no part of myinvention, only the electro-magnet thereof is indicated convention ally.The other terminal of the non-interfering coil is connected by aconductor 74 to a binding post 75 mounted. upon an insulating block. Thebinding post 75 has the other lead 61 of the central station circuitconnected thereto. Connected to binding; post 75 is a contact 76 havinga finger for engagement with a contact 77 mounted upon an insulatingblock secured to the starter 11. A flexible conductor 78 connectscontact 77 and the trouble contact 62. When the starter is in'positionlocking the stop wheel, contacts 76 and 77 are engaged. This shorts thebox, current passing from one conductor 60 to the" contact 62, througheonductor 78 to contact 77, through contact 77 to contact 7 6, tobinding post 75, and to lead 61. Upon the starter being released, thecircuit through contacts 76 and 77 is broken. thus, removing the short.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 2 the selector switch cylinder 48,which is of insulating material has a contact 79 of con-- ductingmaterial mounted thereon. The cylinder rotates from the position shownin Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 2. Contact 79 is of such shape thatspring finger 67 is always in engagement therewith; In the positionshown in Fig. 2, spring finger 68 is in engagement with contact 79,thereby connecting spring fingers 67 and 68. In the position of theselector switch shown in Fig. 2, spring fingers 64 and 67 areelectrically connected.

Referring to Fig. 2, the electrical circuits are shown in the normalposition for sending in a trouble call. Upon the trouble armatureoperating, the starter is released, but the selector switch is noteffected. Assume that current passes into lead 60. It will then travelalong contact 62 to contact 65, through conductor'66 to spring finger67. From spring finger 67 current passes through contact 79 to springfinger 68, then through conductor 69 to conductor 72,

through non-interference coil-73 to conductor 74 and through bindingpost 75 to conductor 61. Opening of the make and break formed bycontacts 62 and 65 will transmit the trouble signal to the centralstation. It will be noted that contacts 70 and 71 .are not in circuit.

Assume that the starter has been released by the hand lever or'by thefire release'armature. Selector switch cylinder 48 will thenbe moved tothe position shown in Fig. 2. Consider the selector switch as shown inFig. 2 substituted for that as shown in Fig. 2. Current then passes fromlead 60- to contact 62, through conductor 63 to spring finger 64, acrosscontact 79 to spring finger 67, through conductor 66 to contact 71,through contact 71 to contact 70, through conductor 69 to conductor 72,and through the non-interference coil 73. From the noninterference coilcurrent passes by conductor 74 to binding post 75, and from the latterto the central station lead 61'. It will be noted that in this positioncontacts 62 and 65 are shorted, and signals will be sent in by the firemake and break as operated by the fire character wheel.

Suppose that a trouble call is being sent in over the system, and thatsome one pulls the hand lever 14 in order to send in a fire call. Unlesssome mechanism is employed to cause the fire call to repeat, it mayhappen that only a portion of the fire call or one or more rounds may betransmitted, due to the starter locking the stop wheel. This mayoccur'after three or more rounds of the trouble call have been sent in,in which state only a portion of the fire'call will be transmitted. Toinsure that at least three, in this instance, fire rounds may betransmitted, I have provided a mechanism shown in detail in Fig. 3. Onthe cam in front of each of the slots are pins 80 and 81. Pivoted on theframe is a let-off lever 82 having a notch to'engage a pin 83 fixed tothe starter. A spring 84 tends to hold the notched end of the let-offagainst pin 83. When the starter is in locking position, pin 83 isdisposed against the straight face 85 of the let-off. Upon the starterbeing released, pin 83 engages in the notch of the let-off, as shown, inFig. 3. This holds the starter in released position, and the stop wheelwill continue to rotate as long as the let-off is in the position showntherein. One arm of let-off 82 is disposed, in the path of pins 80 and81, when looking the starter in released position. Assume that thestarter has been released, the let-offwill lock the starter as shown inFig. 3. One of thepins, for illustration, 80 will kick the letofi'so asto release pin 83 from the notch, whereupon the starter will move sothat cam follower 13 rides upon cam 5. The follower can then drop in thenext slot, namely, 7.

If the trouble switch has actuated the starter to release the stopwheel, then a trouble call will be in the process of being transmitted.Assume that one or more trouble rounds of the trouble call have beensent in, and then the fire trip is operated or the hand lever is pulled.Although pin 80 or pin 81 has already kicked the let-ofi' so as torelease the starter, further actuation of the starter will again causeit to be locked by the let-off.v The starter will then be held againstdropping into the next cam slot, and rotation of the stop wheel willcontinue until the let-oif has again been kicked. In

this case four or more rounds of the fire signal will be sent. It mayhappen that a trouble signal is started, for illustration from theposition shown in Fig. 1, and be fore pin 80 reaches the let-olf to kickthe latter, a fire call is sent. In this case, the fire call willimmediately start, the pin 80 will kick the let-off to release thestarter and less than four rounds oi fire call will be transmitted.However, the pin 80 is so disposed that at least three rounds of firecall will be transmitted. Thus, there will be three rounds of fire calltransmitted regardless of the operation of the trouble signallingmechanism at the time the fire call is pulled either by the hand leveror by the auxiliary box.

What I claim is:

1. In a signallin system, the combination of a signal transmittercomprising a starter to render said transmitter effective, a firecharacter wheel and a trouble character wheel geared so as to rotatesimultaneously, a fire trip for said starter, a trouble trip for saidstarter, a signal circuit including a fire make and break operated bysaid fire wheel and a trouble make and break operated by said troublewheel, a selector switch to place either said fire make and break orsaid trouble make and break in circuit for telegraphing, and meansconnecting one of said 7 trips and said selector switch to operate thelatter to correspond with the trip operated, said means normally holdingsaid switch in position corresponding with the other trip.

2. A signal transmitter as specified in claim 1 including in thecombination, a

stop wheel, a let-off for said starter to lock the latter in releasedposition upon tripping the same, and means on said stop wheel to releasesaid let-01f from said starter upon rotation of said wheel.

3. In a signalling system, the combination of a signal transmittercomprising a starter to render said transmitter effective, a firecharacter wheel and a trouble character wheel geared so as to rotatesimultaneously, a manuall operable fire trip for said starter, a troubletrip for said starter, an auxiliary fire trip for said starter, a signalcircuit including a fire make and break operable by said fire wheel anda trouble make and break operable by said trouble wheel, a selectorswitch to place either said fire make and break or said trouble make andbreak in circuit for telegraphing, and means connecting said troubletrip and said selector switch to operate the latter to place saidtrouble make and break in circuit when the latter is operated, saidmeans normally holding said selector switch in position to operate saidfire makeand break.

4. A signal transmitter as specified in claim 3 including in thecombination, a stop wheel, a let-off for said starter to lock the latterin released position upon tripping of the same, and means on said stopwheel to release said let-off from said starter upon rotation of saidwheel.

5. In a signallingsystem, the combination of a signal transmittercomprising a starter to render said transmitter effective, a firecharacter wheel and a trouble character wheel geared so as to rotatesimultaneously, a fire trip for said starter, atrouble trip for saidstarter, a signal circuit including a fire make and break operated bysaid fire wheel and a trouble make and break operated by said troublewheel, a selector switch to place out of circuit said fire make andbreak when said trouble trip is operated and to shunt said trouble makeand break when said fire trip is operated, means connecting said firetrip and said selector switch to operate the latter to shunt the troublemake and break, and means tending to normally hold said selector switchso as to place said fire make and break out of circuit. 5

6. In a signalling system, the combination of a signal transmittercomprising a starter to render said transmitter effective, a firecharacter wheel and a trouble character wheel geared so as to rotatesimultaneously, a manually operable fire trip for said starter, atrouble trip for said starter, an auxiliary fire trip for said starter,a signal circuit including a fire make and break operated by said firewheel and a trouble make and break operated by said trouble wheel, aselector switch to place out of circuit said fire make and break whensaid trouble trip is operated and to shunt said trouble make and breakwhen said fire trip is operated, means connecting said fire trip andsaid selector switch to operate the latter to shunt the trouble make andbreak, and means tending to normally hold said selector switch so as toplace said fire make and break out of circuit. 7

7 A signal transmitter as specified in claim 6 including in thecombination, a stop wheel, a let-off for said starter to lock the latterin released position upon tripping of the same, and means on said stopwheel to release said let-ofi from said starter upon rotation of saidwheel.

8. In a signalling system, the combination of a signal transmittercomprising a starter to render said transmitter effective, a hand leverfor tripping said starter and a fire alarm character wheel and a troublealarm character wheel geared so as to rotate simultaneously; anauxiliary circuit includinga control electro-magnet having a no-currentbreak operated by said fire character wheel, and a make and breakoperated by saidtrouble character Wheel; and a selector switch formaking effective for telegraphing either make and break, means tendingto 7 hold said switch in position to make effective said trouble makeand break, and means operated by said hand lever and said fire' alarmtrip to actuate said switch to make effective said fire alarm make andbreak.

9. In a signalling system, the combination of a signal transmittercomprising a starter to render said transmitter effective, a hand leverfor tripping said starter, a fire alarm character wheel and a troublealarm charac ter wheel geared so as to rotate simultaneously; anauxiliary circuit including a control electro-mgnet having ano-current-armature and a fire alarm armature for operating said startertrigger means for operating said starter actuated by said fire alarmarmature, trigger means for operating said starter actuated by saidno-current armature; a main circuit having a fire alarm make and breakoperated by said fire character wheel, and a trouble make and breakoperated by said trouble character wheel; and a selector switch forplacing said fire make and break out of circuit or shunting said troublemake and break, means operated by said hand lever and said fire alarmarmature to actuate said switch to shunt the trouble make and break, andmeans tending to hold said selector switch so as to place said fire makeand break out of circuit.

'In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed myname this 4th day of November, 1919.

' LEWIS DEGEN.

